Gospel News — Sep-Dec 2013

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In Bro.Templeton's words the talks were `excellent and well received' by the sizeable audience, among whom were local villagers who had responded to the invitations . While the local residents retreated to their homes for the night, the travelers used the evening to interact and get to know one another better, before retiring to bed. The memorial Service began at 09:00, presided over by Bro. Eddie Ngebeza and Bro. Obed Mafifi gave a deep, powerfuly moving & sterling exhortation on that had everybody on the edge of their seats. Quoting from the scriptures he convinced and encouraged us, on what it means to have faith with works and humility, which our Lord Jesus Christ personified. After the service we broke up into two groups. The sisters covered family life and had to talk to teenage girls about dating, fornication and unfaithfulness, led by Sis Synthia from Soweto. The brethren talked about family life, and a question and answer segment about the spirit and soul.

"Why Are They Then Baptised for the Dead?" (1 Cor 15:29)

Bro Francis Kotei Odiko (Subri, Ghana)

This question was raised by Paul as he preached the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to his brethren and sisters in Corinth. He preached the gospel, and the mystery of godliness: "Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1Timothy 3:16).

As Paul preached to his brethren, he asked some who questioned whether the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because

we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up; if so be that the dead rise not, for if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable (pitiable)" (1Corinthians 15:12-19).

All men are sentenced to death because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in eating the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. Jesus was born not only the son of God but also the son of man, hence was under the sentence of death as are all men. However, he is the only man who never sinned – yet being flesh, even he was sentenced to die. However, he conquered his fleshly nature and fulfilled all righteousness in being baptised by John the Baptist. He was then to begin his ministry and preach the gospel for 3? years. As he died on the cross, he cried out: "'It is finished' and he bowed his head and gave up the spirit" (John 19:30). What was finished? He had spoken: "I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O father, glorify me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me and they have kept thy word" (John 17:4-6).

Jesus rose after three days and taught his disciples for forty days. He then ascended to heaven to the right hand of his Father, as a means of redemption for all those who have believed in Him, denied self, and taken up their cross and followed him. Such will be found faithful at Jesus' judgement, and will be established as kings and priests in God's kingdom. How can they be brought to such a position if they have died – or are subject to death? Jesus spoke to Nicodemus: "'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'. Nicodemus saith unto him, `How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?' Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God'" (John 3:3-5).

How can one be born of water and of spirit? When one is baptised, as Jesus was by John the